Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum User Manual

How to use this manual

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may make one copy of the software for backup purposes only.

The Software License Agreement is found in a separate folder on this installation CD. The copyright and disclaimer, including trademark issues are also found in the same folder.

Important:

This User Manual (On CD) has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. The following are instructions on how to make use of this manual effectively by launching applications and help files, as well as accessing relevant web sites, where applicable, via specially prepared links.

• To launch applications, Help files or to access relevant web sites, click the blue text, or whenever the

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Note:

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To access the applications and Help files, you must first install the manual and the applications in your computer.

Contents

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment.............................ix

What is EAX ADVANCED HD? ................................................ x

Package Contents ...........................................................xi

System Requirements..................................................... xii

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ........................................ xii

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing .................xii

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment ........................ xiii

Getting More Information.................................................... xiii

More Help ......................................................................... xiii

Technical Support .............................................................. xiii

Document Conventions....................................................... xiii

1 Installing Hardware

What You Need......................................................................... 1-1

Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Card............................................... 1-2

Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket ........................................................ 1-5

Your Audigy 2 Drive .................................................................. 1-6

Connecting Headphones .................................................... 1-8

Connecting Microphones .................................................... 1-9

Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain................... 1-10

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs ............................. 1-10

Using Creative Surround Mixer ......................................... 1-11

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive..................................... 1-11

Remote Control Functions ........................................................ 1-12

Installation Steps .................................................................... 1-14

Step 1: Prepare your computer ........................................ 1-14

Step 2: Connect the Audigy 2 Drive cables ........................ 1-16

Step 3: Install the Audigy 2 Drive..................................1-17

Step 4: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card...............1-18

iii

Step 5: Install the Joystick/MIDI bracket ........................... 1-19

Step 6: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card....... 1-20

Step 7: Connect to power outlet ....................................... 1-22

Connecting Related Peripherals................................................. 1-23

Connecting Speaker Systems ................................................... 1-26

Connecting External Consumer Devices ..................................... 1-27

Positioning Your Speakers ........................................................ 1-29

2 Installing Software

Installing Drivers and Applications............................................... 2-1

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo.......................... 2-2

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers .... 2-2

Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications ...................... 2-2

Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications ...................... 2-3

Installing/Uninstalling selected Audio Drivers or Applications.. 2-4

Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2) .................................... 2-5

Updating Windows 98 SE ........................................................... 2-5

Installing Digital Video Update............................................ 2-5

3 Using Audigy 2 Software

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications ............................... 3-1

Demos..................................................................................... 3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo ................. 3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo.............. 3-2

SoundFont Showcase ........................................................ 3-3

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite ............. 3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! ............................................. 3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher.................................... 3-4

Creative MediaSource Player.......................................... 3-4

Creative MediaSource Organizer..................................... 3-5

Finding and organizing songs ..................................... 3-5

Keep your music database up to date ......................... 3-5

Transferring songs .................................................... 3-5

Automatically playing multimedia content.................... 3-5

Extracting and converting songs................................. 3-6

Storing music on recordable CD ................................. 3-6

Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player.............................. 3-6

Creative EAX Console ........................................................ 3-7

Audio Effects: Environmental Sound Processing ........... 3-7

CMSS 3D: Simulating Surround Sound........................ 3-8

Audio Clean-up: Removing noise and distortion............ 3-8

Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playback ............... 3-8

Creative Surround Mixer ............................................... 3-9

Creative Speaker Settings ............................................. 3-9

Creative Speaker Calibrator ........................................... 3-9

Creative MiniDisc Center ............................................... 3-9

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager ................................ 3-10

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2.................................3-10

Creative Wave Studio ..................................................3-11

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities...................................... 3-11

Creative Diagnostics .................................................... 3-11

Creative Speaker Settings ............................................3-12

Appendixes

A General Specifications

Features .................................................................................. A-1

PCI Bus Mastering .................................................... A-1

Audigy Processor ...................................................... A-1

High Quality Audio Path............................................. A-1

Professional Digital Audio Processing........................... A-2

Flexible Mixer Control................................................ A-2

Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoding.................................... A-2

Creative Multi Speaker SurroundTM (CMSSTM) ............ A-3

SB1394TM Compatibility............................................ A-3

Connectivity ............................................................................. A-3

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card .............................................. A-3

Audio Inputs ............................................................ A-3

Audio Outputs .......................................................... A-3

SB1394 Interfaces .................................................... A-4

Interfaces ................................................................ A-4

Audigy 2 Drive............................................................. A-5

Audio/Video Inputs and Outputs On Front Panel........... A-5

Interfaces ................................................................ A-5

B Troubleshooting and FAQs

Problems Installing Software ...................................................... B-1

Problems with Sound................................................................. B-2

Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards .... B-6

Insufficient SoundFont Cache ..................................................... B-7

Problems with Joystick............................................................... B-8

Problems with Multiple Audio Devices .......................................... B-9

Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster

PCI512 card.......................................................................... B-10

Resolving I/O Conflicts............................................................. B-11

Problems with Encore DVD Player ............................................. B-12

Problems with Software DVD Player .......................................... B-12

Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/2000/Me/XP ............ B-13

Problems in Windows XP .......................................................... B-14

Problems with Digital Audio Devices .......................................... B-15

vii

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), the method of audio data compression used in DVD-Audio, reduces file size without removing any of the information that was contained in the original recording. The listening audience will hear the audio as it was intended in the original recording. Other packing methodologies that remove data as part of the compression are referred to as 'Lossy Compression'

Thank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum, the next generation Creative audio product with exciting new features and enhanced audio processing architecture.

This User Manual (on CD) guides you through the installation and usage of Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum consists of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Joystick/MIDI bracket, the Audigy 2 Drive and an infrared (IR) remote control.

Featuring 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum delivers high-definition sound of astounding quality and 24-bit/96 kHz audio recording capability from all Line Ins and SPDIF In. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum supports surround sound audio on your computer and has output capabilities for 6.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with its Audigy 2 processor, enables awesome

ADVANCED HDTM technologies for your gaming and music listening

EAX experience. The SB1394 port provides easy high-speed connectivity to NOMAD

portable digital audio players, external CD-RW drives, and other IEEE 1394 compatible devices like DV camcorders, printers, scanners, and digital still cameras.

Combine Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum with our rich software package for hours of endless fun. Included in your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD are the latest generation drivers and software for you to enjoy DVD-Audio entertainment with native MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) support, and to create EAX-enhanced MP3 songs, which you can share with your friends over the Internet.

Introduction ix

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?

EAX ADVANCED HD brings a new level of performance, power, and flexibility to PC audio. Taking advantage of the enhanced processing capabilities of the SoundBlaster Au digy 2 pro cess or, EAX ADVANCED HD delivers a host of new features that achieve high definition audio for gaming and music enhancement.

The all-new EAX ADVANCED HD Game Audio Library takes in-game audio and acoustic simulation to a whole new level. These innovative technologies bring tremendous realism and total audio immersion for PC gaming:

❑ New Multi-Environment

technology renders multiple environment audio

effects in real time.

❑ Environment Panning

makes it easy for gamers to track with threedimensional precision, the location and movement of sounds that usually represent enemies or team mates. This gives Sound Blaster Audigy 2 gamers a better advantage as they are more "attuned" to the game scenario.

❑ Environment Reflections ❑ Environment Filtering

offers localization of early reflections and echoes.

accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed environments.

❑ Environment Morphing

allows for seamless transition from one environment

to the next.

EAX ADVANCED HD Music Technologies also assures sonic superiority.

❑ Audio Clean-Up ❑ Time Scaling ❑ EAX ADVANCED HD

removes unwanted noise in a digital audio file.

speeds up and slows down music with no distortion.

music effects, developed especially for music listening,

further enhance playback of songs.

EAX ADVANCED HD offers dramatically increased 3D audio performance and functionality. Delivering superior audio fidelity and sophisticated reverb effects, this unsurpassed digital entertainment experience is available only from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 family of products.

Introduction x

Package Contents

The items listed here may be different in certain countries.

Use the AD_EXT cable with the Audigy 2 Drive ONLY. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with the Audigy 2 Drive as that may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to the Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, which will void the warranty for this product. Your computer may potentially be damaged too.

The following items are included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum package:

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

❑

Audigy 2 Drive and IR remote control

❑

Joystick/MIDI bracket

❑

Internal SB1394 cable

❑

AD_EXT cable

❑

Digital CD audio cable

❑

Power splitter cable

❑

2 Mini-DIN-to-standard-DIN adapters

❑

3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter

❑

4 screws + shunt (for microphone selection)

❑

2 AAA batteries for the IR remote control

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD

❑

Quick Start Guide

❑

User manual (on CD)

❑

Demos and game CDs

❑

Warranty (printed or on CD)

❑

Technical Support (printed or on CD)

Introduction xi

System Requirements

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing

Minimum 256 MB RAM recommended for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP users for games and DV capture and editing.

❑ Genuine Intel ❑ Intel, AMD or 100%-Intel compatible motherboard chipset ❑ Windows

2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows XP

❑ 64 MB RAM for Windows 98 SE and Windows Me

128 MB RAM for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP

❑ 600 MB of free hard disk space ❑ Available PCI 2.1 compliant slot for the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ❑ Available adjacent slot for the Joystick/MIDI bracket (optional) ❑ Available 5 1/4" PC drive bay ❑ Headphones or amplified speakers (available separately) ❑ CD-ROM drive installed

❑ Genuine Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or AMD 700 MHz processor for SB1394

applications or games

❑ SB1394: Minimum 128 MB RAM for digital video (DV) capture and editing

recommended, Ultra DMA hard disk with 1 GB workspace (ATA-100, 7,200 rpm type and 6 GB recommended) for DV applications

❑ Games: At least 128 MB RAM, 3D graphics accelerator with at least 8 MB of

texture RAM, available 300–500 MB of free hard disk space

❑ DVD: At least second generation DVD-ROM drive with these recommended soft-

DVD players: InterVideo’s WinDVD 2000 or CyberLink’s PowerDVD 3.0 or later

❑ DVD-Audio: Requires genuine Intel Pentium III 800 MHz, Windows 2000 SP2 or

Windows XP SP1, and a second generation DVD-ROM drive 6X or higher

Pentium® II 350 MHz, AMD® K6 450 MHz or faster processor

98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows

Introduction xii

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment

Internet Radio: Requires at least a 56 kbps modem and an active Internet connection to run the application.

Other applications may have higher system requirements or may require a microphone. Refer to the application’s online Help documentation for details.

Getting More Information

More Help

Technical Support

Document Conventions

Refer to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo and the various online Help files for detailed information on Creative applications. The Sound Blaster

Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo gives you an interactive introduction to Sound

Blaster Audigy 2 and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

View the contents of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD for additional libraries and other software. Visit the www.soundblaster.com site for the latest Sound Blaster news and products. The site also includes information on making purchases, technical help, and the latest driver updates.

Visit www.soundblaster.com/support/faq for general help.

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual:

The notepad icon indicates information that is of particular importance and should be considered before continuing.

The alarm clock designates a caution or warning that can help you avoid situations involving risk.

The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to directions may result in bodily harm or life-threatening situations.

Introduction xiii

Installing Hardware

This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum hardware.

Installing Hardware

What You Need

In addition, you will also need an available PCI slot and another adjacent available slot on your computer.

Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these:

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Drive

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Digital CD audio cable

Phillips-head screwdriver Joystick/MIDI bracket

(not included)

Remote Control

AD_EXT cable

Internal SB1394 cable

Screws

Shunt

Installing Hardware 1-1

Your Sound

Blaster Audigy 2 Card

Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of devices:

In Analog mode, the Line Out, Rear Out and Rear Center Out

acks are used simultaneously for 6.1 channel speaker systems.

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

Figure 1-1: Jacks, connectors and ports on the

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-2

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

SB1394 port (SB1394)

Connects to an IEEE1394 compatible external device (such as a digital video camcorder, digital still camera, printer or scanner).

Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3)

Connects to Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

Line Out 2 jack (LIN_OUT2)

Connects to Rear Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

Line Out 1 jack (LIN_OUT1)

Connects to Front Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output. Also supports headphones.

Microphone In jack (MIC_IN)

Connects to an external microphone for voice input.

Line In jack (LIN_IN)

Connects to an external device (such as a cassette, DAT or MiniDisc player).

Digital Out jack

6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF output for connection to external digital devices or digital speaker systems.

Installing Hardware 1-3

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Number Description

Telephone Answering Device connector (TAD)

Provides a monaural connection from a standard voice modem, and transmits microphone signals to the modem.

CD Audio connector (CD_IN)

Connects to the Analog Audio output on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using a CD audio cable.

AUX In connector (AUX_IN)

Connects to internal audio sources such as TV Tuner, MPEG, or other similar cards.

Internal SB1394 port

Connects to the SB1394 connector on the Audigy 2 Drive.

CD SPDIF connector (CD_SPDIF)

Connects to the SPDIF (Digital Audio) output (where available) on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using the Digital CD audio cable provided.

Joystick/MIDI connector (JOYSTICK)

Connects to the Joystick/MIDI cable.

Audio Extension connector (AD_EXT)

Connects to the internal Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-4

Your Joystick/ MIDI Bracket

The Joystick/MIDI bracket is used to attach a joystick or MIDI device:

Joystick/MIDI connector

Connects to a joystick or a MIDI device.

Rear view of connector bracket

Figure 1-2: Connector on the Joystick/MIDI bracket.

Installing Hardware 1-5

Your Audigy 2 Drive

The Audigy 2 Drive provides additional connectivity for a number of other devices. The front panel of your Audigy 2 Drive has these jacks, connectors and controls:

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

• If your headphones or

microphone uses a 1/8" (3.5 mm) plug, use a 1/8" stereo mini plug to 1/4" stereo phono plug adapter (included).

• Set the gain of the Mic In 2

jack to the minimum before connecting or turning on a microphone, especially if you are monitoring the microphone input with headphones.

Figure 1-3: Jacks, connectors and controls on the Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-6

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

¼” Line In 2/Mic In 2 jack

Connects to a microphone or audio devices such as electric guitars and DAT or MiniDisc players.

Headphone Volume Control

Controls the headphones output volume. See “Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.

¼” Headphone jack

Connects to a pair of headphones using a 1/4" stereo plug or adapter. Your speaker output is muted when you connect the headphones to the Audigy 2 Drive.

Coaxial SPDIF In/Out jacks

Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc recorders, via RCA input/output.

Optical SPDIF In/Out connectors

Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc recorders, via optical input/output.

Auxiliary 2 Line In jacks

Connects to consumer equipment such as VCR, TV and CD players, via RCA Auxiliary audio outputs.

Installing Hardware 1-7

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Number Description

Infrared Receiver

Receptor for the Infrared commands from your IR remote control.

Connecting Headphones

There are two types of headphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

❑

Home or professional headphones fitted with a 1/4" stereo phono plugs

❑

Personal stereo headphones fitted with a 1/8" 3.5 mm stereo miniplug, such as those used with personal audio players, when used with the included 1/8" 3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter.

MIDI In/Out connectors

Connects to MIDI devices using the mini DIN-to-Standard DIN adapters provided.

SB1394 connector

Connects to IEEE 1394 compatible devices.

Line In 2/Mic In 2 selector

(Microphone Gain Control) To switch to Line In 2, turn the knob counter clockwise over the Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark until you hear a “click”. To switch back to Mic In 2, turn the knob clockwise over the separator mark until you hear a “click”. To increase microphone gain, continue to turn clockwise. See “Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.

Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark

Installing Hardware 1-8

Connecting Microphones

There are two types of microphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

❑

Dynamic microphone, which is usually fitted with a ¼" stereo plug, such as those used in vocal performances.

❑

Condenser microphone, such as those sold for use with computers, are equipped with a 3.5 mm minijack.

• The Jumper JP1 may not be available on certain models of Audigy 2 Drive.

• The shunt for Jumper JP1 can be found together with the packet of screws provided.

Shunt

To us e a d yna m i c microphone, place the shunt onto Jumper JP1.

Figure 1-4: Microphone jumper settings.

To use a condenser microphone, remove the shunt from Jumper JP1 (default setting).

Jumper JP1

By default, your Audigy 2 Drive is set for use with a condenser microphone. To use a dynamic microphone, you must place the shunt (jumper) on to Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive. See Figure 1-9 on page 1-16 for the location of Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-9

Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain

You can adjust the headphones volume and microphone gain in two ways.

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs

On the front panel of the Audigy 2 Drive, turn the respective control knob:

❑ Counterclockwise ❑ Clockwise

increase

decrease

the headphones volume or microphone gain.

Installing Hardware 1-10

Using Creative Surround Mixer

To install Surround Mixer and other applications, see “Installing Drivers and Applications” on page 2-1.

• For best effects, set the headphones volume and microphone gain levels to 75% in Creative Surround Mixer, and then use the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs to make further adjustments.

• If you set the headphones volume or microphone gain levels to 0%, or mute them in Creative Surround Mixer, you hear no sound if the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs are set to the maximum.

To adjust headphones volume:

1. Click

Start

Surround Mixer

2. On the

Master Control

is no red “X” on the

Speaker

the

3. Drag the

Programs

Creative

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

panel of Creative Surround Mixer, make sure that there

Speaker

button under the

button. This will unmute the headphones output.

Volume

slider up or down to adjust the headphones volume.

To adjust microphone gain:

1. Click

Start

Surround Mixer

2. On the

Source

button with a down arrow, and then select

3. Make sure the it. Otherwise, click the

Programs

Creative

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

panel of Creative Surround Mixer, click an audio input source

Microphone

Speaker

button below the

Speaker

button. This will unmute the audio input.

Microphone

4. Drag the slider to adjust the microphone gain.

Volume

slider. Otherwise, click

slider has no red “X” on

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive

The Audigy 2 Drive has an infrared receiver for the remote control. This remote control lets you operate your computer from the comfort of your sofa or bed up to a distance of 4 meters (13 feet).

Installing Hardware 1-11

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